Maria Sharapova Match Quotations

I haven't played a lot of matches, so I'm just trying to get used to the conditions, the stadium, the wind, playing under the lights for the first time in a while. When you're out for a little while, first match you're a little tentative. The injury, you don't know how it's going to be. So far it's OK.

I do not have revenge on my mind, but I don't like losing to the same player twice in a row. Martina played some amazing tennis in Tokyo, but it is a different match tomorrow.

I think I started of really well from the first match. I was really read. It was a bit unexpected because I didn't play a lot of matches coming into the tournament, so I thought I would be a little rusty at the beginning.

It was up and down. I felt a little awkward in some situations because I haven't been match tough lately. I'm absolutely exhausted.

It was very difficult, I've played Nadia in the last two Grand Slams in the quarter-finals as well and we've had such tough matches and I've been able to pull through so I'm very happy.

In the beginning of the match I wanted to dictate from the first point, I think it was very important. In the second set obviously it was very tough, but I was able to finish it off.

When the matches get tougher and you're pushed more, automatically, the level of your game increases.

That wasn't really a match for me. I was already in the semis, so I just wanted to save my energy. Obviously, she must be playing great tennis but I just need to go out there and step it up if I want to be in the semis.

That's one of the first times I played a match without feeling anything.

But it would mean a lot. I don't think I've shown New York how I can play tennis. Hopefully I can put together some good matches for my New York fans.

But strange things do happen in tennis and today's match was one of them.

I got off to a great start and then maybe I wasn't aggressive enough and let her into the match in the second set. I don't know exactly what happened, I just lost my concentration a bit, but was able to get back on track in the final set.

I think we got the point that there was a soccer match or something going on.

But it's about being in those situations and learning from them and although I've played a lot of matches already in my life, I'm still pretty young and have a lot to learn. But I am learning and I think you can see that.

I played great tennis this week. It was a tremendous effort for me to be able to play two really tough matches yesterday and still play a high level of tennis today. In the first set it was just one or two balls didn't go my way I guess, and then after that I was physically tired from yesterday.

We have tough matches and I've been able to pull through, so I'm very happy.

It's never easy coming back after being a set up and then being up 3-1 and all of a sudden it becomes 3-all. You know, it's going to be a different match from there. But I guess I was playing the right way yesterday. When the rain started coming down, the conditions got a lot heavier. I was rushing it a little bit. I guess it was good just to have a good night's sleep.

I actually felt pretty good. I'm really happy about it because that's one of the first times I played a match without feeling anything. You know, I don't expect it to be that like for the whole tournament. So I'm very happy I got through that one without any pain.

We've had such tough matches and I've been able to pull through three in a row - it's a confidence boost.

I knew I didn't win this match fairly. I don't like such victories,

It's absolutely amazing, I can't believe I pulled this match out today, there were so many ups and downs, and somehow I found a way to fight, but a lot of credit to Nadia, she played an amazing match,

I think today I played much better, especially in the first set, than in my first match on Wednesday,

There was a lot of rustiness, ... The first match (after a layoff) is always tough. You practice hard and work on a lot of things, but the actual competition is totally different. I was just trying to get in a groove, get my feet wet.

The first match is never easy. You don't know what to expect,

I know that I did not win this match fairly, ... I do not like such victories.

I was in that period right after I won Wimbledon, ... The next four months, I felt like I had to win every match. It's a matter of telling yourself that it's impossible to win everything ? no matter what people say. You can't control people's actions. My big thing is to just keep working hard. Because one day, you're going to be on court and you'll win a match and realize that the hard work paid off. That's exactly what I did last year. I lost here and I worked my butt off.

Overall I'm happy to get through the match, but it definitely wasn't the best match I played,

I know I didn't win this match fairly,

Wow! It's absolutely amazing, I can't believe I pulled this match out today,

It comes on unexpectedly from day to day and I can't control it, ... I'm not a player who goes on court without intending to finish a match. It's bad enough to have to withdraw before you play, but to retire during a match is even more disappointing.

I kind of gave it all I had in the tiebreaker and just basically ran out of gas in the third set. Physically, I have to get a lot better and play these three-setters where the points are going to go on and on. Today's match is a great example that it's physical.

It was the first day that it's been really hot like this. It's good to get through these kind of matches and I'm looking forward to the next one.

She's played a lot of matches on clay, she feels the ball, she sees the ball well,

It gives me a lot of confidence that I can pull out a win like that when there are points in the match where you don't feel great.